APEC Support Fund Receives Contribution from Chinese Taipei Boosting Security and Preparedness Emergency and Disaster Preparedness

With pandemic health threats and terrorism threatening regional economic security, Chinese Taipei has announced that it will generously donate US$ 1 million to APEC institutions to promote cooperation on emergency and disaster preparedness and response.

The US$1 million package includes US$500,000 for the APEC Support Fund. The funding will be used to promote cooperation on emergency and disaster preparedness and response.

US$500,000 will be directed to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s Cooperation Fund for Regional Trade and Financial Security Initiative. This contribution will effectively reinforce counter-terrorism action among APEC members.

John Chen, the Senior Official of Chinese Taipei says, "Chinese Taipei is concerned about the threat of avian flu and other new strands that pose potential pandemic threats as top-priority public health concerns.

"Based on Chinese Taipei's experience in disease control during the 2003 SARS outbreak, we are committed to sharing information about the useful mechanisms we implemented to combat an outbreak, especially as it applies to avian influenza.

"Chinese Taipei has made every effort to integrate the resources of different ministries and departments for disease control. Fighting such a pandemic requires the close cooperation of every organ of the government.

Chinese Taipei's contribution brings the APEC Support Fund total to US$4 million. It supplements Australia's contribution which was made earlier this year when the ASF was formally approved during the APEC Senior Officials Meeting in Jeju, Korea, held in June 2005.

The APEC Support Fund supports capacity building projects for developing economies in the APEC community.

"ASF Projects are targeted and should meet the priorities of economic and technical cooperation.